Francis Newbery, or 'Fra' as he was known by his students, was central to the avant-garde movement which occurred in Glasgow between 1880 and 1920 at The Glasgow School of Art (GSA).
Born in Devon, Newbery studied at Bridport and the National Art Training School in London. In 1885, aged 30, he was offered the position of Headmaster and Director of The Glasgow School of Art. Under his guidance, the art school was transformed from being a moderately successful institution to one of international reputation at the forefront of the modern movement.
The dynamic new headmaster brought an enlightened, energetic leadership which resulted in significant change, including the construction of the new Charles Rennie Mackintosh-designed GSA building which Newbery oversaw and supported. Within the school, he equally encouraged male and female students. This meant that in 1905 Glasgow became the first school in Britain to admit women to its architectural program. Newbery also promoted increased interaction with the Continent, employing tutors from Europe, such as the Belgian Symbolist Jean Delville, at a time when few others in Britain would dare to do so. He also chose to involve his students with important exhibitions abroad.
Much of his success at GSA was led by the acclaim surrounding the work of artists such as Mackintosh, Margaret and Francis Macdonald, and Jessie M. King in the 1890s. As a painter, Newbery was closely associated to, and exhibited with, the Glasgow Boys, a group of artists who were part of the European avant-garde in the early 1890s. In particular, he had close ties to John Lavery, James Guthrie, E.A. Walton, and enjoyed a close relationship throughout his life with Mackintosh.
